Santa Clara Men's Soccer Falls to UCLA 1-0 At Diadora Classic

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -
Twelfth-ranked Santa Clara University men's soccer dropped its first game in the last four years of the Diadora Classic on Sunday to No. 10 UCLA by a score of 1-0. The three-time defending champions of the event walk away disappointed despite outplaying the Bruins for the majority of the match.

Santa Clara (2-2-0) out-shot UCLA (2-1-1) in the first half by seven and ended up with four more shots than the eventual Diadora Classic champs, but it was the Bruins who won the game. UCLA scored its game-winner just four minutes into the second half when tournament MVP Tim Pierce blasted the ball past Broncos netminder Rusty Johnson. Pierce had won the ball during a scramble in front of the Santa Clara goal and blasted it into the upper right-hand corner.

Junior Jamil Walker led the way for the Broncos creating many offensive chances in the first half, including having one of his six shots on goal deflecting off the crossbar directly down on to the goal line and then spinning back into the field of play.

"I really think we took it to them today, especially in the first half, and created some excellent chances today, but the ball just didn't seem to find its way into the back of the net," said Murray. "I am very pleased with the way our guys came out and played today, but am very disappointed with today's outcome."

The Broncos thus far this season have out-shot their opponents 66-36 but have only managed three goals to their opponent's four.

Santa Clara will be back in action on Wednesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium as the Broncos will welcome in the San Jose State Spartans for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Alumni night.